41 cats safe, seeking love after seizure from now-condemned Wynyard home

Forty-one cats have been rescued from a now-condemned home in Wynyard, Saskatchewan, and are starting to come out of their shells after a whirlwind weekend of seizure, veterinary care and relocation.

Veronica Hermiston, director and founder of Mozart Sympawthy Animal Sanctuary, received a call on Friday night from Saskatchewan RCMP, asking if her organization could assist in a situation where a person had passed away and had cats. At the time, officers estimated there might be nine or 11 animals in the home.

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“When I got the call, I thought, it’s the weekend, it’s Friday night. Okay, we’re down volunteers …  I was like, who could I get to help me or help us make this happen?”

Hermiston quickly reached out to SOS Prairie Rescue, who also reached out to SCAT Street Cat Rescue. Volunteers were quickly assembled and drove out to Wynyard from Saskatoon.

Going in with hazmat suits, volunteers were met by a home that was unsuitable for living, dirty and cluttered with garbage. They worked to coax the frightened cats out of the home.

“It was very, very hard to take, I think, emotionally and of course, physically (for volunteers), just to try and maneuver amongst the debris, and then also just the overwhelming odour,” Hermiston shared.

A volunteer with the Mozart Sympawthy Animal Sanctuary holding one of the small kittens rescued from the home. (Veronica Hermiston/submitted)

The home has since been condemned.

Fifteen cats were initially rescued from the house. As of Wednesday morning, five days after the initial call, the total is up to 41. Volunteers are still making visits to the home to see if more animals have been left behind.

An assembly line of urgent veterinary care

The cats seized were immediately taken to various vets. Despite the late hour and the volume of care needed, Hermiston said there was no difficulty getting help from local veterinarians to see and care for the animals. The local vet in Wynyard was away for the weekend, but continuously offered Hermiston her expertise throughout the evolving situation. A vet in Foam Lake volunteered her time immediately to offer care for the cats, as well, seeing 15 of the animals.

The cats all enjoyed what Hermiston jokingly called a “spa day,” being sedated and having their teeth, ears, feet and bodies checked over.

The animals all had their nails cut, ears cleaned and were treated as needed for ear mites, worms and upper respiratory issues. One cat had an abscessed tail, two each had an eye removed, one presented with an eye ulcer and an assembly-line system saw to the neutering of more than a dozen males on the weekend.

Numerous animals were shaved because of heavy matting in their fur — what Hermiston described as “cat dreadlocks.”

One of the many cats treated to a “spa day” after being removed from a now condemned home in Wynyard, Sask. (Veronica Hermiston/submitted)

Volunteers suspected one cat wouldn’t make it and were really concerned for her well-being. “She was really wanting to live,” Hermiston said, calling it a “miracle” that she has now pulled through, thanks to the care she received.

Overall, considering the circumstances the animals came from, Hermiston said it was surprising and amazing that most of the animals were fairly healthy.

Though frightened at first, it hasn’t taken long for the cats to start to show their personalities and affection. Hermiston called it a “beautiful thing” to see the animals start to feel comfortable, now that their ailments have been cared for.

Cats are pushing their heads into Hermiston’s hands and wanting love once again.

“It’s beautiful to see them, within 24 hours, transform, after all they’ve been through,” she shared.

The question looming over the three animal rescue organizations remains the cost for how to pay for the care of these cats.

Grateful to the vets for their reasonable fees, Hermiston said, even if you estimate about $500 per cat for care, not including transportation and surgeries, the total cost will exceed $20,000.

Donations so far of food, bedding, pee pads and money have been an immense help in caring for these “little fighters,” Hermiston said.

Many of the cats are now coming out of their shells after a busy weekend of travel and time at the vet. (Veronica Hermiston/submitted)

Not a rare occurrence in Saskatchewan

At the time Hermiston received the initial call from police, she was heading out to another large-scale rescue involving about 35 dogs and puppies.

That “never” happens, according to Hermiston, but it isn’t uncommon for situations involving large numbers of animals in unsafe conditions to be seized in the province, generally.

Hermiston said the province is seeing a very busy time for seizures of animals right now.

“Thirteen cats, that’s like nothing to us,” she said, recalling other recent calls asking for help with 27 animals in one location, 47 kittens in another home, and a town that reached out to Hermiston’s organization about an elderly couple with 87 cats.

Hermiston is clear: this was not a situation of animal cruelty — more likely a loving home where the situation got out of hand too quickly for the owners.

She fears there is a flippancy about owning animals, and cats especially, that can lead to neglecting spaying and neutering in the province.

“I think cats especially are treated as disposable,” she said.

That, combined with mental illness, seems to be the pattern Hermiston’s organization continues to encounter with these mass seizures from dangerously unhygienic environments.

“I feel the trauma (the owners) must be enduring,” she said, noting the intention in situations like these is never to shame the owners.